Karachi: The Sindh government, in consultation with Election Commission of Pakistan, is going to deploy a force of 35,057 policemen and 7,400 Rangers Jawans to provide security to 4,037 polling stations, of them 1,714 have been declared as most sensitive and 1,329 sensitive.

This was stated by Inspector General of Police Mr Ghulam Hyder Jamali and Home Secretary Mohammad Waseem while briefing the chief minister here at the CM House Friday.

Home Secretary Mohammad Waseem said that there are three zone, South, East and West in the city with seven districts. In the city there are over 7.49 million registered votes. He added that 4,037 polling stations have been set up, of them 1,714 have been declared most sensitive, 1329 sensitive and 226 normal.

He said that there are 23 union councils and 213 union committees, they would have chairmen and vice chairmen. The number of general seats for union council is 922 while for union committee the number of general seats comes to 852.

Mr Waseem said that 12 political parties such as PPP, PML-N, MQM-A, PTI, Sunni Tehrik, JUI-F, Jamat-e-Islami, JUI-P, ANP, PML-F, MQM-H, Qaumi Awami Tahreek and a large number of independent candidates are contesting election.

Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali briefing the chief minister about deployment plan said that there are three deployment categories such as static, mobile & motorcycle patrolling and reserve platoons.

He said that deployment of force has been made on the basis of assessment of law & order situation and sensitivity of polling stations as per their history. "Pakistan Rangers will be assisting police in creating a secure environment," he added.

He said that static deployment at the polling stations would be as per their scale while all the polling stations would be provided complete security through mobile patrolling. The patrolling force would be fully equipped with necessary weapons and gadgets. He further added that the reserve platoons would be alert to deal with any situation.

Replying to a question the IG said that the total available strength of Karachi range police is 26,957 while additional force of 10,000 personnel would be provided from other ranges, units and training centers. "Over all the police force deployment would come be 35,057," he said.

The IGP said that Pakistan Army was also deploying 10 companies, each company has a force of 80 personnel. Similarly, a force 7,400 Rangers Force equipped with weapons and other necessary gadgets. "The Rangers would patrol through 88 mobiles and 180 motorcycles,"The Police and Rangers have already started patrolling all over the city.

The entire city would be covered through surveillance cameras already installed in the city and through mobile surveillance systems.

The chief minister directed the IG to ensure proper security during the polling and even counting of votes. "Some times during the counting serious incidents emerge, therefore security must be the whole day and night" he said.

The chief minister appreciated Rangers and Police for working a joint security plan and hoped that the polling day would pass smoothly.